Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs

By Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed

Publication date: 1911
Topics: New York (State) -- Genealogy, Hudson River Valley (N.Y. and N.J.) -- Genealogy, Mohawk River Valley (N.Y.) -- Genealogy
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Available from Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/hudsonmohawkgene00cuyl

[Excerpts mentioning Sacketts, Sackett spouses, and parents of those individuals transcribed by Ted Smith.]

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(IX) John (4), son of Joseph (2) Sherman, was born at Shrewsbury, April 8, 1737. He settled about 1760 in Conway (History p. 672 in Conn. Valley). In 1772 he bought a pew in the First Congregational church. He married (first), in 1761, Chloe Thayer, of Bellingham, a descendant of the Thayer family of Weymouth. She died May 2, 1766, aged twenty-five. He married (second), about 1770, Gratia Allis, born 1745, daughter of Abel Allis, and granddaughter of Samuel Allis. (Deerfield History p. 27.) (P. 19 old history of Conway.) John was a soldier in the revolution from Conway in Captain Joshua L. Woodbridge's company, Colonel Nathan Tyler's regiment, July 22, 1779, to December 25, 1779, in the Rhode Island campaign. Also in Captain Isaac Newton's company, Colonel S. Murray's regiment, July 30 to October 10, 1780, in the continental army; also in Captain Oliver Shattuck's company, Lieutenant-Colonel Baranabas Sears's regiment, August 12 to November 8, 1781; also second lieutenant in Captain Joseph Browning's fourth company, First Hampshire regiment; also captain in Colonel Gideon Burt's regiment, commissioned July 16, 1782. In 1790 the first federal census shows that John Sherman was living at Conway and had two females in his family: John, Jr., had a separate establishment, but no family, and Caleb had three sons under sixteen and two females in his family. John Sherman lived on a farm beyond the river in Broomshire village, now known as the John B. Stearns place. Various other Grafton and Shrewsbury men also settled in this vicinity. Children of first wife, born at Shrewsbury: Caleb, May 14, 1762; John. March 27, 1764;

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Chloe, August 4, 1765. Child of second wife : Ware Darwin, mentioned below.

(X) Ware Darwin, son of John (4) Sherman, was born at Conway, Massachuetts (sic), October 3, 1771, died about 1842. When a young man he removed to Arlington, Vermont, probably as early as 1790, and he married there Anna D. Canfield, of Arlington, daughter of Ezekiel and Mary (Sackett) Canfield. They settled at Kingsbury, New York, about 1806, and subsequently removed to Luzerne. He was a farmer and lumberman. Children : John Sackett, born 1790; Lydia, 1792; Richard. 1795; Augustus, mentioned below; Abigail, 1807; Anson, 1808: Avery, 1810: Anna, 1813.

(XI) Augustus, son of Ware Darwin Sherman, was born in Arlington, Vermont, February 11, 1801, died December 3, 1884. When he was five years old his parents went to Kingsbury, and shortly afterward to Fairfield, now Luzerne, New York. About 1823 the family migrated to Pennsylvania, going in a covered wagon, and covering a distance of forty miles in a day between Schenectady and Buffalo, New York, they claiming to have the fastest team in the State. Augustus Sherman attended the winter terms of the common school, but the schools were crude and the terms short. Early in life he became familiar with the hard work of the farmer and lumberman. Before the Glens Falls feeder was constructed he used to draw lumber across from Corinth or Big Falls, raft it on cribs to the bend and thence take it across Deadman's Point above Fort Edward, and after the big dam at that place was built he had to carry the timber still farther down the river to Rogers's landing opposite Schuyler's Island, whence it was rafted to market. With the opening of the Glens Falls feeder he was among the first to place a boat on its waters for the transportation of lumber. When he was but fifteen years old he had to drive a lumber wagon alone to Albany and attend to sales and purchases, a task he performed with all the good judgment and faithfulness of a man of experience. In the following year, in consequence of his father's financial troubles, he was obliged to take entire charge of the business, and he worked early and late with untiring perseverance and energy in order to help his father out of debt. His venture in the lumber business on his own account was in operating an old English saw mill with two saws, located on a small stream which empties into the Hudson river, and at the same time he operated a grist mill in the vicinity. In addition to this laborious task, he drew and rafted his lumber to the market.

Here he laid the foundation of the large fortune that he subsequently accumulated. After three years he took the Buttolph mill farther down the river. Having disposed of his property in Luzerne, in the winter of 1840-41, he made his home near the feeder-dam and resumed the manufacture of lumber on a large scale with greatly increased facilities. Two years later he went to Glens Falls, where he made a permanent home. Year by year, with increased means at his command, his lumber operations became more and more extended until they reached colossal proportions. He began to invest heavily in lumber lands by purchasing in the sixteenth township and he secured prompt and substantial profits. He had the thorough knowledge of business and values, and uncommon shrewdness in buying and selling. All his investments turned out well, and his fortune became in the end second to none in the county. His career was a notable example of the American self-made business man. He was associated with nearly all the financial corporations of Glens Falls, either as trustee, director, manager or president. He was the first president of the Glens Falls Paper Mill Company and also of the Bald Mountain Lime Company. In the early seventies he interested himself in erecting handsome business buildings in Glens Falls. In politics he was a Republican, and in religion a Presbyterian. He married (first), March 4, 1824, Nancy Weed, born March 27, 1802, died June 12, 1848. He married (second), September 1, 1856, Charlotte H. Conkling, of Martinsburg, Lewis county, New York, born March 18, 1825, died July 10, 1889. Children: 1. Mercy M., born May 17, 1825, died June 17, 1856; married, July 4, 1844, Alexander Canfield. 2. Anner D., born March 29, 1827, died March 28, 1889; married William Wolsey Weed. 3. Abby G., born September 9, 1828, died June 13, 1896; married Lemon Thompson. 4. Martha Mahala, born January 21, 1831, died April 10, 1902; married, December 15, 1850, George Rugge. 5. Lydia L., born February 29, 1832, died October 4, 1892; married, October, 1862, Henry G. Lapham. 6. William A., born November 20, 1834, mentioned below. 7. Darwin Ware, born March 31, 1837, mentioned below.

(XII) William A., son of Augustus Sherman, was born November 20, 1834, died May 7, 1883. He was educated in the public schools. For many years he was a prominent lumberman, a partner in the firm of Rugge, Sherman & Company. He was a member of the Baptist church. He married, January 13, 1862, Harriet Aurelia Newland, born March 29,

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1829, died November 13, 1895, daughter of David and Mary (Billings) Newland. Her father was born June 23, 1788; married, May 4, 1814, Mary Billings, born October 26, 1792, died December 15, 1840. Children: Carrie Louise, born July 13, 1863, died June 4, 1875; Eddie Darwin, June 7, 1867, died December 19, 1867; Arthur William, mentioned below.

(XIII) Arthur William, son of William A. Sherman, was born at Glens Falls, February 23, 1869. He was educated in the public schools, at Glens Falls Academy and Riverview Academy of Poughkeepsie, New York. In 1905 he became vice-president and cashier of the First National bank. He is interested in numerous other enterprises. He is treasurer of the Glens Falls Portland Cement Company, vice-president of the Kendrick & Brown Company, treasurer of the Sherman Lime Company and of the Glens Falls hospital. In politics he is a Republican, and he attends the Presbyterian church. He is a member of Senate Lodge, No. 456, Free and Accepted Masons, of Glens Falls. New York; Glens Falls Chapter, No. 55, Washington Commandery, No. 33, of Saratoga Springs; Oriental Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles Mystic Shrine, of Troy, New York. He married, October 18, 1893, Gertrude Coolidge, born March 30, 1869. Children : Thomas Coolidge, born September 29. 1894; Harriet Newland, April 7, 1899, died June 26, 1908; Georgianna Coolidge, April 28, 1901; Arthur William, Jr., May 6, 1903.

(XII) Darwin Ware, son of Augustus Sherman, was born in Hadley, New York, March 31, 1837, died December 13, 1894. He was educated in the common schools of Hadley and Glens Falls, and when a young man he engaged in the lumbering business for his father, and upon the death of his father he continued to operate the industry established by his father and he became one of the representative business men and capitalists of the section. He married, October 13, 1856, Marion Robbins, born July 16, 1838, died June 28, 1890. Children: William A., born January 7, 1861, married, October 31, 1882, Gertrude Snow; children : Ruth and Richard; Henry L., mentioned below.

(XIII) Henry L., son of Darwin Ware Sherman, was born at Glens Falls, May 5, 1865. He was educated in the public schools and the Glens Falls Academy. He has been for many years engaged in the lumber and lime business and is at present secretary of the Sherman Lime Company. For sixteen years he was interested in the hotel business, conducting the Marion House on Lake George. He was trustee of Glens Falls village for two years before it was incorporated as a city, and he served on the board of education for six years and was secretary of the Glens Falls Hospital Association for ten years. He is a life member of the following Masonic organizations : Senate Lodge No. 456, Free and Accepted Masons, Glens Falls; Glens Falls Chapter, No. 55; Washington Commandery No. 33, of Saratoga Springs, New York; Oriental Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles Mystic Shrine, of Troy, New York, and Scottish Rite, thirty-second degree, of Troy and Albany. He married, May 12, 1885, at Glens Falls, Jennie Wait, born January 30, 1864. They have one child, Darwin Wait, born February 5, 1890, who is a sophomore (1910), Yale.

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(VI) Philip Stephen Van Rensselaer, third child of General Stephen and Cornelia (Paterson) Van Rensselaer, was born in the Manor House at Albany, New York. October 14, 1806, died at New York, New York, June I, 1871. He married, in Washington Square, New York City, October 17, 1839, Mary Rebecca Tallmadge, born May 16, 1817, died at Albany, August 3, 1872, daughter of General James and Laura (Clinton) Tallmadge. Children, born at No. 6 Washington Square, New York: 1. James Tallmadge, born February 3, 1842, died at Boston, Massachusetts, August 28, 1899; married, New York, July 15, 1897, Mrs. Minnie (Sackett) Parker, widow of General Parker; no issue. 2. Cornelia Paterson, born October 6, 1843, died at Florence, Italy, December 30, 1857. 3. Philip Stephen, born November 11, 1844, died at New York, New York, March 22, 1882; married, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1872, Edith, daughter of Edward Biddle; no issue. 4. Clinton, born April 29, 1846, died at New York, New York, April 24, 1851. 5. Franklin, born May 26, 1852, died at New York. New York, April 29, 1853. 6. Cortlandt, died in New York.

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[Listed among the descendants of John and Sarah Reynolds, who sailed from Ipswich, England to Watertown, Massachusetts in 1633.]
5. Gideon, James, John, John.
Gideon, the fifth child of James, the son of John, the son of John the emigrant was born in 1706, was a member of the Connecticut legislature, and married Bethia _____. He d. in 1769, leaving a will dated Oct. 23, 1765, proved at Stamford, Mch. 7, 1769. His widow survived him. He had:
. . .
2. Ezekiel [Reynolds], b. Aug. 7, 1788; d. Jan 24, 1881; m. May 7, 1776,

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Phebe, dau. of Ezekiel Reynolds; she d. Sept. 21, 1855, and had: 1. Adeline, b. Oct. 20, 1810; m. Erastus Rundle. 2. James, d. young. 3. Wm. T., b. July 18, 1814; d. Jan. 11, 1881; m., Feb. 23, 1836, Mary Ann Halsey. 4. Stephen, b. Dec. 22, 1815; d. unm., in 1841. 5. Elkanah M., b. Sept. 8, 1817: d. Jan. 16, 1892; m. Jan. 31, 1844, Sarah Sackett Wilson, who d. Aug. 27, 1903.

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James — John — John.

3. James Reynolds, son of John and his wife Judah, was born in Greenwich, in 1674, and on May 10, 1697, together with several others of "ye young men belonging to the towne," received an allotment of a homelot at Horseneck (three acres at Horseneck and ten between the Two Brothers' Brooks).

Up to 1703 all town meetings had been held at Greenwich Old Towne, but in that year it was determined to hold half of them at Horseneck, which was rapidly outgrowing in importance the older settlement, and James was one of those who signed the petition to the General Assembly. In 1705 the town was divided into two societies, and he was appointed selectman (Dec. 31, 1705) to the Second Society on "ye West sd. of Myanos River."

In the Common Place Book at Greenwich is the entry: "Nov. 1, 1706. Recorded unto James Renals his ear mark which is a cross upon ye top ye neer ear and two half pennies under ye side of ye same ear."

James was elected lieutenant of the train band. May 14, 1719, and captain May 9, 1728. He was the deputy from Greenwich to the General Assembly, 1721-24, and 1727-38, and justice of the peace of Fairfield county, 1735-1741. Beginning with 1723 he was for many years the moderator of the Second Society. The last record of him in the books of the Society is dated December 7, 1750.

That James Reynolds was a very large land holder is made apparent from the many deeds recorded in Greenwich. As early as April 21, 1706, he obtained by grant of the town eight

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acres at Clap-board-tree-ridge, a hill lying about a mile and a half back of Greenwich. This was increased by purchase from his brother John, December 2. 1712, and other grants November, 1707 and 171 2, until he owned a large tract.

On March 14, 1710, he sold to Edward Avery "a piece of ground in Horscneck, my homelot of 14 acres with present dwelling, house barn and orchard bounded on the east by a highway, southerly and westerly by ye highway and northerly by ye land of Ebenezer Mead and common land."

There was recorded at White Plains, December 13, 1745, the deed from James Reynolds and three co-partners of a very large tract of land in Westchester county, held "by virtue of patent granted in 1701 and called the East Patent."

On May 10, 1736, he deeded his "well beloved and dutiful son Gideon Reynolds" a very large tract of land on Clap-board-tree-ridge, and augmented it with another granted February 21st, 1743. On April 29, 1738, he deeded part of his "homelot in Greenwich to his loving and dutiful son Justus." On September 24, 1748, he gave his son Jeremiah fifty acres. On February 17, 1748-49, he gave his son. James Jr.. his house and orchard on Clap-board-tree-ridge. This house, a large gambrel structure surrounded by enormous box trees, was still standing in 1897, and was owned by the descendants of Gideon Reynolds. On March 4, 1752, he deeded his lands on the Indian Fields to his sons James Jr. and Gideon, both of Greenwich. On March 24, 1752. he gave his lands at North Castle to his son James Jr.

From the distribution of his property it is apparent that lie intended moving from Greenwich to New York state, where he was probably interested in the Nine Partners Patent. He figures in the Greenwich tax lists as late as 1761. and in deeds describes himself as of Greenwich in 1759-61-62.

Nevertheless, his granddaughter Anna Palmer, daughter of Nathaniel Reynolds, deeded, October 1, 1760, land on Clap-board-tree-ridge, "in said Greenwich, which was given to her by her honored grandfather James Reynolds formerly of said Greenwich but now of Dutchess in the Province of New York." (Greenwich Deeds, vol. VII.)

James, in a deed dated August, 1761, describes himself as of Peekskill, in the county of Westchester. James died February 14, 1767, at Amenia, Dutchess county, N. Y., and was buried in the Amenia City (Smithfield) graveyard, where his stone still exists. Family tradition states that he was visiting his son James, who is also buried there. A letter written in 1848 states that "he was large and made a fine appearance."

From a deed signed December 22, 1731, by Captain James Reynolds and his wife Sarah, it appears that she was the daughter of Mary Hobby, who married, November 18, 1686 (Stamford Records, p. 118), Stephen Holmes (b. Jan. 14, 1664-65, at Stamford, d. May 15, 1710, Greenwich). The deed (Greenwich, vol. A, p. 131) covers "part of lot or right of land that was given by John Hobby of Greenwich, deceased, unto his daughter Mary and her children, and I, Sarah Renyalls, am one of the children of ye said Mary Holmes." The said land was granted to her by her honored father John Hobby "Dec. 22, Anno Dom., 1731." The latter was on the voters' list of Greenwich as early as 1658, and the inventory of his estate, April 24, 1707, mentions "dau. Mary Holmes, wife of Stephen Holmes." John Hobby was the son of John Hobby, one of the seven original proprietors of Greenwich (1664).

Stephen Holmes, b. Jan. 14, 1664-5, in Stamford (Stamford Records, p. 76), d. May 15, 1710, in Greenwich (Stamford Records, p. 143), was the son of John Holmes, b. 1635, d. July 6, 1703 (Stamford Records, p. 113), and Rachel Waterbury, who removed to Bedford, Westchester county, N. Y., in 1680. They were married at Stamford, Dec. 3, 1659 (Stamford Records, p. 76). Rachel Waterbury was the daughter of John Waterbury, who died at Stamford 3- 15- 1658 (Stamford Records, p. 20). John Holmes receipted on behalf of his wife "Rachel out of ye estate of her deceased father John Waterbury 10-12m-i668" (Stamford Records, p. 68).

The Common Place Book at Greenwich gives the births of four of James' children: "Sarah Renalds ye daughter of James Renals was born (?) 25, 1698. James Renalds son of James Renals b. July 6, 1700. Nathaniel Renals son of James, b. Feb. 20, 1702-3. Mary Renals, dau. of James b. Feb. 9, 1704-5. That he was the father of Gideon, Justus and Jeremiah, appears from the deeds of gifts already quoted.

James had the following children, though whether they were all by Sarah Holmes is not known: i. Sarah, b. 1698, subsequent history unknown.

. . . [The book goes on to describe 2. James, 3. Nathaniel, and 4. Mary.] . . .

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5. Gideon, James, John, John.

Gideon, the fifth child of James, the son of John, the son of John the emigrant was born in 1706, was a member of the Connecticut legislature, and married Bethia _____. He d. in 1769, leaving a will dated Oct. 23, 1765, proved at Stamford, Mch. 7, 1769. His widow survived him. He had: 1. Gideon, b. about 1732, m. Hannah Rundle, he d. in 1772, leaving a will dated Feb. 18, 1772, proved May 5, 1772, at Stamford. His widow survived him; they had: i. Hannah, b. 1758, m. at Greenwich, Feb. 8, 1776, Shubal Rundle. 2. Tamar, b. 1760, m. at Greenwich, Nov. 14, 1787, Thomas Peck. 3. Gideon, b. in 1763, d. unm. 1792, leaving a will proved Feb. 7, 1792, at Stamford, devising his estate to his brothers. 4. Oliver, b. about 1765. 5. Abraham, b. about 1769.

Horton [Reynolds], the second son of Gideon, the son of James, b. about 1734, was a sargeant in the Revolutionary army, wounded in the battle of White Plains. Admitted to the Second Society of Greenwich, June 8, 1774, died leaving will executed Aug. 23, 1796, proved at Stamford, May 2, 1797. He m. Lydia, dau. of Caleb Knapp and Clemence Mills, who survived him and had: 1. Horton, d. before 1815, his widow Abigail survived him and afterwards m. Shadrach Mead, who was administrator of his estate. At the time of his death his children were infants, i. e. : 1. James H. 2. Abigail J. 3. Emeline. 4. John J.

Horton and Lydia Knapp also had : 2. Charity, m. Benoni Piatt. 3. Mary, m. Caleb Purely. 4. Lydia, m. Elisha Belcher. 5. Bethia, m. Feb. 19, 1789, Nathaniel Sackett. 6. Rachel, m. Sanford. 7. Anna, m. Feb. 25, 1790, David Hobby. 8. Ruth, m. Ebenezer Knapp.

p. 1839

6. Justus — James — John — John.

James had a sixth child, Justus, b. 1708, d. 1747, m. Apr. 23, 1737, Elizabeth, dau. of Richard Sackett, and had at Greenwich: 1. Sackett, b. Mch 3, 1738, m. Nov. 21, 1760, Mary, dau, of Benjamin Jones, and had: 1. Justus, b. July 26, 1761, 2. Mary, b. Feb. 1, 1763. 3. Elizabeth, b. Apr. 11, 1765, 4. Hannah, b. July 26, 1767, 5. Benjamin, b. Apr. 10, 1770.

Justus and Elizabeth Sackett also had : 2. Elizabeth, b. May 4, 1740, 3. Sarah, b. July 26, 1742, 4. Anna, b. May 24, 1745, 5. Mary, b. Apr. 4, 1748.